Interlude: The Edge of COVID-19

If there is anyone following this blog, one might wonder about the quiet lately.  Perhaps naturally, these pages have been quiet.  The reason is natural, after all.  COVID-19 has changed our world, perhaps and probably irreversibly so even if you and yours don't get directly affected by its wrath.  So, with much of the world's attention and concern on the coronavirus, I feel it is not the time to write/blog about the various leisure activities in/around Tokyo.  I'll leave that on pause until a better day when tourists and even residents of Japan can be a bit more carefree and reasonably enjoy things without fear of falling victim to this invisible enemy.

For now, the Edge of Tokyo has literally kind of been on the edge of falling into the trap of COVID-19, but still very much alive and well.

From my perspective, life has changed but a lot has still stayed the same.  Work goes on somewhat as usual, as I work in a position required to be active in order to support various needed operations around Camp Zama and US Army Garrison Japan.  So I haven't had a lot to myself, unlike many others.  I am limited by where I can go, so there isn't a lot of new and unique experiences to share at the moment.  I have taken towards video games at home to entertain and thrill me in the absence of the many fun activities I've grown accustomed to in and around Tokyo.

On a related note, I have started another blog with a focus on my photography and the experience/background behind each shot I share, at http://photoedgetokyo.blogspot.com/.  It fills some of the gaps I have with my free time lately, and hope it tells an interesting story to its readers about the photos I take and have shot over the years.

Until the Japan (and the world) returns to some sense of normalcy, please take care of yourselves and others, and continue to find enjoyment in life!

Interlude: When A Typhoon Messes Up Your Weekend

Typhoons can be serious and have a significant impact on our lives.  Just take a look at the local (Japan) news, or search the internet for news on the recent Typhoon #19 (also known as Typhoon Hagibis).

There were instances of supermarkets running on empty shelves; while it may seem harrowing at first, it was only because people were doing somewhat routine errands (getting a nominal amount of food and drink) all at the same time, in a highly populated metro area.  Not from people buying cases of water and food for weeks, like you might see in other countries in similar situations.

I've been through a few of these typhoon things both on Honshu and Okinawa, and in the Philippines.  I may not be an expert on this but I feel like I can share some tips to those who find themselves struggling to find a balance between worry and easing through it all:

- Observe what others around you do to advance of the typhoon.  I don't necessarily mean fellow Gaijin (who are more likely to over/under react) but locals who have been here for years and have a good feel for what to expect from these things.  Watch what they buy, and how much of it, then follow suit.

- Don't stay out too late before the event.  These things can be somewhat unpredictable at times, and you wouldn't want to find yourself out too deep into town when transportation systems come to a halt.

- When you're home, don't be stressed about survival, at least not too much.  (Typically) we are housed in places farther from the danger areas (extreme slopes, rivers, ocean) so that's one less thing to worry about.

- Find means to entertain yourself while cooped up.  Self explanatory... whether it's a video game, a tv/movie series, a good book, an online or in-person conversation... find something that'll keep you happy and captivated for hours.

- Don't underestimate the post-event impacts.  Train services stopped, which resulted in massive traffic on the roads.  Depart very early the next day, or reschedule/reshuffle things to manage the impact.

Take care the next time a typhoon makes its way to your neighborhood... and take it easy!

Photography In Japan (And Not All About The Landscapes)

The most photogenic city in the world... and not just the landscapes.  The people are great photographic subjects!

Japan is a very unique part of the world, compared to most.  Many other places, you could interchange with other, often neighboring countries, and could fool the casual eye.  But, Japan stands out with its culture, charm, and perhaps most of all, its people. 

So, does it not make sense that Japan is one of the biggest photography hubs in the world?  Of course it does, and not just for the tourists.  Even the most casual photographers native to Japan will have a decently capable SLR camera at his/her disposal, ready to snap at a moment's notice.

As you may have read from some of my other musings here, though, personally I can appreciate the beauty of many of the landmarks of Japan, but much more than that I can never get tired of taking pictures of people.  Landmarks, landscapes, buildings can look different from day to night, but people can be anything at any given moment.  And people are interesting to look at... hence people watching is a thing, but building/tower/landscape watching isn't, that I know of.

Also, on a deeper level, photographing another person represents a connection... that person is captured on your camera, an indelible memory.  Like, there is a bond between two people, even though it may be strong or very thin and passing, it is there... and you have a photographic item to remember it by.

Still, there are many passionate photographers who won't see eye to eye with me on the greater value of people photography.  I'd say most are like that.  But if you're like me, and are in the Tokyo area, you are blessed with seeming infinite possibilities on getting subjects for your photography.  Here's some of the hints I can offer to point you in the right direction(s):

- Events: not just of people, but displays, art, vehicles, all for the camera.  And, as you probably know, there are so many events in Tokyo, probably more than any other metro area in the world.  Perhaps at the top of the list of Tokyo-area events, no matter what your preference for subjects may be, is CP+.

- If you want to take more detailed shots and/or the opportunity to take shots of a celeb, there are photo shooting sessions held at various studios.  These are more pricey than the event options, but afford you time and space, and lighting equipment to meet any detailed requirement you may have.  Some of the options out there for this type of photo shoot which I have experienced are Modemaid and MIA café.  Some celebs collaborate with studios for photo shoots, but in order to get to those I'd recommend following their respective Twitter accounts for news/info on these.

 

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Cool experience photographing the mysterious @eri_kitami thank you! #erikitami #glasses #tokyo #japan #japanese #woman #asia #instagramhub

A post shared by akiba16 (@akiba16) on Feb 18, 2019 at 7:38pm PST

- As you may have figured out by now, there's a café for almost anything/everything in Tokyo.  Even for photography of people, most notably at Gurado Bunkasai, even if it's slightly towards the adult realm.  This is kind of a happy medium between event shooting and studio shooting.

- If you're not so much into photo models but like taking photos of people, street photography style... parks, such as Ueno Park, Yoyogi Park, and shrines are great for candid shots.  Also great for the candid shots are the open street days, such as at Ginza and Akihabara.

Most of us "gaijin" types are not going to be in Japan forever.  Some longer than others, but not long enough to take it all for granted.  Take those photos, and keep those memories!

Interlude: Happy New Year, Advice For a Happier New Year, and Happy New Blog Name

I've always looked back at each year upon its passing and reflected upon the many things that have transpired in that timeframe.  In recent years, specifically since I arrived here at Camp Zama in 2015, the years have been truly great, the best of my life, and unbelievably, getting better with each higher numbered year.  2018 continued that trend in spectacular fashion.  If it isn't apparent by the photos, videos, and descriptions I've shared of some of those experiences so far on this web space, then I'll just tell you that I'm (insanely/unfairly?) lucky to be in a blessed location with wonderful family and friends here who not only understand my unorthodox/weird/geeky ways, but unconditionally support them as well.

Some of my 2018 moments by month:

I'd been criticized by some around me in the past for not sharing what I know/learned from my experiences, and probably rightfully so.  I'm not very social to begin with because my values/interests tend to stand apart from most.  There are a few I can talk to and feel comfortable spending time with, though, but in person I tend to be very reserved.  For some reason though, I get along very nicely with the people of Japan... perhaps it's that mysterious reason that gets me in to some of the experiences/friendships here that elude many others.  A big part of my inspiration for this blog was to try to share what knowledge I have and hope that it makes someone else's stay here more memorable, whether for a tourist or a fellow Camp Zama resident.

However, it isn't just my personality and quirks that get me to the fun; there are definitely some tangible ways to get you to those experiences.  Perhaps one or more of these can get you to an experience/event more in line with your interests (instead of mine) or better yet, outdo mines completely:

How to find cool Tokyo area events/experiences for yourself

1. Make friends: Whether online or offline, they give the best advice for you (because they know you, and they have personal experience to relay to you) and make the best guide/companion should you need it.  I definitely lean heavily on my social network (mostly offline) and wouldn't have had half as much fun had I not done so.

2. The internet is your friend as well: Much more than before, information on almost everything you think you'd want to visit/experience is available online.  If no one in your network has done it before, it's worth bringing up like "I saw this place on the internet... looks really interesting, want to give it a try sometime?"  This is where having friends comes in handy again especially in Japan with Japanese friends; if you have some common interests, he/she is more likely to go with you and help ease the language barrier.

3. Phone? Smart!  Everyone has a smartphone nowadays, nevertheless it is worth mentioning that aside from translation apps that can get the message across the language barrier when needed, they are invaluable in way finding and getting information when you're out and about.

4. History tends to repeat itself:  Attended a very cool event somewhere?  There's a very big chance  that same place has some other events worth looking into... so check out their event schedule and you might find another one even better than the one you just attended.  Some good ones in the Tokyo/Kanagawa area are Tokyo Big Sight, Makuhari Messe, and Pacifico Yokohama.

5.  Fear is the path to... boredom:  Self explanatory.  Personal note; I actually feared/stressed a bit when going to some places/events (such as the Japan Adult Expo and Burlesque Tokyo, among others) but that's where having a friend or two to go with helped me overcome and enjoy.  If no one else wants to go... decide if you really want to take the dive by yourself, but remember that YOLO.

6.  The most overlooked, best quality of Japan: The people here are friendly, understanding, and helpful; as friends they are beautiful and intricately woven into my heart and life now.  If you've noticed, I have not raved one bit exclusively about inanimate objects or landscapes... everything I've encouraged here involves friends, family, and even strangers.  Take this into account when thinking of the next thing to do or visit...

Go out and have a wonderful, memorable 2019!

And finally, very briefly about the blog title change... I felt the Edge of Tokyo was more in line with the heart of the subject matter in more ways than one:

- I'm at Zama/Sagamihara, which is just on the edge of the Tokyo/Kanagawa prefectural border
- The experiences I share are not always politically correct, they're a bit on the edge...
- Personally, I've strived to be the best person I can be, and respect/love all creatures of God.  But there is an other half to me that does what I want and doesn't care about perception of me.  I guess that's being "edgy".
- For everyone out there who stumbles upon this part of the internets, I hope it gives them an edge over others in finding fun and interesting things/places/experiences in and around Tokyo!

So there you have it: again, take 2019 to a wonderful, memorable edge!

Interlude - Why I'm Here

So I've pounded out a few posts featuring several of Tokyo's finest attractions, events, experiences, and all that.  Perhaps now's a good time for a little breather, not that I'll take any actual time away from the process really.  This is just a snapshot into the person behind the posts on this part of the internets.

The initial post on this blog was actually the introduction to me, but the subsequent posts shed more into what my interests are, what I find to be fun and rewarding, things like that.  I'm sure as the posts continue, the layers will continue to be peeled... if anyone is actually attentively peeling, then I guess they are learning about the enigma that is me.  But I'll take this moment to tell the story of the reason I'm here.

I'm employed by United States Army Garrison Japan (USAG Japan for short), hence my presence here at Camp Zama, Kanagawa prefecture, for a few years, and more to come in the future as we go along in this process of life.  Without a doubt, the complete package of this existence here is the best I've ever had.  The package consists of:

- Location: being in the "suburbs" of Tokyo has the best of both worlds; easy access to the best city in the world and a quieter neighborhood in which to relax and unwind at home.
- Salary/benefits: won't go into detail but I'm not starving for cash and don't have to worry very much about having to shell out large amounts of money  here (really!).
- People (in and out of work): I have international experience with employment, and I will go as far to say that the people working alongside me here in Camp Zama are the best all-around and it isn't even close to anywhere else.  Along with international work experience I've also had extensive international friend experience.  And the friends I've made here in Zama and the Tokyo area are truly the best; maybe not to the level of my best friends in high school but as adults they made time for me when I'm free to have fun, and they've taught me so much, all without even an ounce of judgment or reservation for anything about me.
- Work environment:  Much better than any other place I've been employed.  No "traps", no "gut checks", no backstabbing.

And, I've had previous experience working at and living in Yokota Air Base (nearby) and Camp Foster (Okinawa).  Camp Zama as a whole has both beat in my opinion, and it's not even close.  So if you are considering employment for the US government in Japan, my heart would reach out to you to tell you to come right here to Camp Zama.  If you're interested, I'm not the best source of advice in getting hired over here (I've only been working for the government for less than 5 years) but I'd be happy to share with you what I can and do my best to help.

An Obligatory Introduction post

I'm not the most experienced/knowledgeable person with regards to the greater Tokyo area, and I'm not really a tourist (lived in the area for over three years) so why start this blog thing, now?  There are a few reasons... but I think the most prominent ones that have inspired this movement can be summed up in bullet form:

 

- Happiness:  Never in my life have I been happier with my life, to include my place in my professional career, the place I call home (Camp Zama, Kanagawa; less than an hour from metro Tokyo), and the friends and family around me who truly make every moment full of fun and discovery.  Being so happy, I would like to share some of those things we've all discovered together, and those things I've learned from some very cool people around me.  If I can somehow enable anyone else, whether tourist, local resident, or fellow government employee in Japan, to find more happiness/fun in their stay in this place of beauty (in every sense of the word), the purpose of this web space has been fulfilled.

 

- Contradiction: In today's world more than ever, it seems like innocents suffer while the guilty go unpunished.  Genuinely good people are largely ignored while the loud obnoxious ones seem to grab all the fame in social media, etc.  I'm far from perfect, but I believe my approach to life is firmly grounded on the kinder, gentler side (even if I tend to stand and walk apart from the traditional path of heroes) and I want to show others, even if just a few others, that happiness can be achieved this way, without being rude or taking anything away from someone else.  I'm still pretty quiet, but I'll make every effort a meaningful one from here on out.

 

- Outreach: Even though today's world is much more connected than it was even just a decade ago, and information readily available at the grab of a smartphone, there are things one would still only discover by word of mouth, connecting with friends in the area, listening to their stories and then using that information (or that friend) as a key to open the door to a new adventure.  I know that even today, there are more than a few bored guys/gals sitting in my neighborhood wondering if they truly know what's out there in the big city like I was a decade ago... I'd like to give those people a written/illustrative glimpse into many of the things I've been so fortunate to experience.

 

In case you're trying to get to know the mind behind this web space (me), you'll run into all kinds of contradictions.  The upcoming (or past, depending on when you stumble on this) pages will tell enough about my person but here's a few basic facts that will go undisputed:

 

- Engineer/project manager/planner working at the Directorate of Family Morale and Welfare (DFMWR), US Army Garrison Japan, Camp Zama

- Love music, video games, anime, photography, and fun

- Never want to leave the Tokyo, Japan area

There are a few others, sure, but those will become apparent once the true sharing gets underway.  Have fun and please enjoy the stay!